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I move beside him, my fingers twining in his. “It doesn’t have to.”
He throws his head back and howls – a wolf claiming his territory. It’s wild and beautiful and perfectly Gabriel. I think he’s starting to see that his father’s curse doesn’t have to be his own. I toss back my head and howl, too. Our cries pierce the silent night, sending a flock of birds loose from the trees.
“What’s back here?” Noah calls. I whirl around. He’s on the edge of the clearing, staring into the trees. Moonlight glints off a glass building hidden amongst the foliage.
“Oh, it’s my father’s arboretum – a fancy glasshouse with a laboratory attached. It’s one of his hobbies. He likes to combine different strains of plants and such. He won an award at the Chelsea Flower Show for a new color of tulip. Don’t ask him about it unless you want to be bored to death for five hours straight.”
“Noted.” As we turn back toward the path, a shadow steps in front of us, bearing down with cold menace. My fingers fly to my sleeve. I’ve already launched my knife as the figure lunges toward us and the solar light beside the path catches his features.
The duke yells as the blade catches him in the shoulder. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Shit.
He slumps to the ground, grunting as his fingers slide over the hilt. I turn to Gabriel, sick with panic. He smirks, and I feel myself relax. I might’ve just knifed a duke, but he won’t send me to jail for it, not when it risks another scandal.
With a grunt, the duke yanks the knife from his arm. A spurt of blood arcs from the wound. He clamps his hand over it and glares up at us. A chill settles on my heart.
“I think that color looks good on you, Father.” Gabriel shoves his hands in his pockets and gives the duke a flashy grin. “Most festive for the Christmas season.”
“This is the last straw,” the Duke of Blackwich hisses at his son. “I summoned you here out of courtesy to the duchess, but I see now it was as fruitless as I predicted. You haven’t changed, and I won’t risk you bringing more dishonor to the Blackwich name. You’ve squandered your final chance. My offer is rescinded. I will have my legacy without your interference.”
Gabriel throws back his head and lets out another howl that collapses into a wild laugh. “Is that a threat, Your Grace? Go ahead, impregnate your viscountess. Make me a new brother in your image so I can corrupt him, too. My mother is better off without you. I have wealth enough of my own, I’ll make sure she’s taken care of. I’ll give her everything you’ve denied her. And then we’ll see who has the brighter legacy.”
“I would not be so concerned about the duchess if I were you.” The duke staggers to his feet, still clutching his shoulder. Sweat pools on his forehead, and although he addresses his words to Gabriel, it’s me he glares at with cold malice. “If you or your friends lift a finger to stand in my way, I’ll make sure you never sing another note as long as you live.”
Claudia
“Oooh, I’m all aflutter over Big Daddy Duke threats. What does he think he’s going to do? Cut me off? Too late. Or maybe he’ll rubbish me in the papers, try to destroy what little reputation I have left. He’s tried that already, but it only made me more desirable for the label, more of a bad boy for the gutter press to pick over.” Gabriel slouches in his seat as the flight attendants prepare for takeoff. “He can’t hurt me any more than he already has.”
His words sound brave, but I catch the tremor in his voice. He’s trying to convince himself.
There are still so many ways Gabriel can bleed.
I know we haven’t heard the last of this. I don’t intend to underestimate the Duke of Blackwich, especially not when he’s conspiring with Cleo. He’s a calculating bastard… sorry, wanker. And since Gabriel wears his heart on the outside, the duke has already made careful note of his son’s weaknesses – his mother, Dylan’s memory, me.
And where did he get this knowledge from? Cleo, of course.
I haven’t got where I am in life ignoring dangerous and powerful people. The Duke of Blackwich will have his legacy, one way or another. He’s yet another crow circling over our heads.
I glance across the aisle at Eli and Noah. I’ve promised Eli that I’ll help him free the animals Nero has in his care. And Noah… we still didn’t have answers about his father’s involvement in Felix’s death.
They’re counting on me.
It’s a lot.
And I’m about to blow their worlds up.
I could lose them over this.
It’s more than I can bear, but then I think of Antony’s face as he pulled me out of that grave all those years ago. He deserves this.
If saving Antony means losing the guys… I swallow hard. Maybe it’s for the best. If they’re out of my life, maybe they’ll be out of danger, too.
By the time the plane touches down on US soil, I’ve come up with a plan. It’s a ridiculous plan, but I’ve thought through different scenarios using the logic methods Noah taught me in his tutoring, and it’s the only thing that will work to solve all our problems.
Either that, or get us all killed.
“You’re quiet,” Noah points out as we step inside Malloy Manor. I bite back a response about jet lag. He’s my mirror. He sees right through my bullshit.
